Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Published on 01/25/1999 All articles from this issue

Letters to the Editor

printer friendly version

Candidates for public review

I am very happy to see that there were 10 candidates for the seat on the El Camino Hospital District board.

I have been an advocate of a board that represents the needs and desires of the majority of the patients of our local hospital. I have felt, for a number of years, that we must have a board that can truly reflect the needs and desires of our patients.

How can we do this? The fact is that most of the patients of El Camino Hospital do not know the qualifications, needs or incentives of the people who have applied for this position of trust.

As a patient and taxpayer, I feel that the least that can be done is to allow each of the candidates to present their reasons for wanting to serve on our board in a public forum.

I presented my idea to (Santa Clara County Supervisor) Joe Simitian, whose recommendation will probably result in the election of a new member. Simitian stated he was reluctant to impose a new demand on the candidates.

I wonder whether any of the candidates who are seriously interested in serving the public would care. Mr. Simitian, why don't you ask?

Joseph DornigLos Altos

Applicant process thorough and public

Editor's note: This is Simitian's reply to the above letter.

Last fall, not a single candidate stepped forward to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of El Camino Hospital District Board member Dianna Adair. I am pleased, however, that a widely noticed and well-publicized application process has produced not one, but 10 applicants to fill the vacancy that now exists.

These 10 applicants have submitted resumes and references, and their names have been announced and publicized locally so that interested residents might comment on their qualifications as well.

All 10 applicants will be interviewed initially by a three-member panel, and five finalists will be interviewed by me personally. I will then nominate one applicant to our Board of Supervisors for consideration and approval.

The process to date has been open, thorough and public to an unprecedented degree. I believe it serves the public well.

I will encourage the newly appointed member of the El Camino Hospital District Board to conduct a community night to meet with and hear from the public at the earliest possible opportunity; and equally important, I encourage the public to attend meetings of the hospital board where they may share their views with the entire board.

S. Joseph Simitian

Santa Clara County

supervisor, fifth district